title: Factors contributing to heavy metal accumulation in sediments and in the intertidal mussel Perna perna in the Gulf of Annaba (Algeria).
abstract: This paper presents the results of a seasonal survey of heavy metals accumulated in sediments and in the soft parts of the body of the mussel Perna perna at four stations in the Gulf of Annaba (Algeria). Pooled soft tissues from 10 mussels representing the entire range of sizes were digested in nitric acid. Statistical analysis reveals a significant seasonal effect on all the measured metals, the highest values being recorded in winter. With the exception of Cr, the levels for all metals were significantly higher in the east, at the outlet of the Seybouse River, than at all other monitoring stations. The study also shows that north-western waters are subject to a significantly lower degree of heavy metal pollution than elsewhere in the gulf. Levels were nevertheless within the limits of public health standards. The results confirm the usefulness of P. perna as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences de la Mer, Faculté des Sciences, Université Badji Mokhtar d'Annaba, BP 12, Algeria.
authors.forename: Bourhane-Eddine
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Belabed
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Laffray
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhib
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fertouna-Belakhal
authors.forename: Souad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turki
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aleya
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D049883:Perna / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Algeria; Annaba Gulf; Heavy metals; Mussels; Perna perna; Sediment